The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says around 11:15 a.m., a horse-drawn buggy was going north along the shoulder on County Road 9 when it was hit from behind by a pickup truck and went into the ditch.

The driver and passenger of the buggy, 72-year-old Robert Keppers and a 66-year-old Mary Keppers both of Avon, died at the scene. The horse was severely injured and also died at the scene.

The driver of the truck, 23-year-old Marc Knapp of Avon, was not hurt.

The crash remains under investigation by the Stearns County Sheriff's Office.